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Food tipped to rise by up to 50% as floods take toll(Australia)

FOOD prices could rise as much as 50 per cent as the Queensland farming industry is hit with flooding losses of at least $400 million.
Affected farmers on Tuesday revealed both summer and winter crops had been destroyed, with many hectares of newly planted grains, vegetables and fruit submerged by flooding.

The damage is likely to push up the cost of groceries including melons, tomatoes, mangoes, and bananas from Wednesday.

Farming lobby group AgForce estimates 50 per cent of the state’s crops have been affected by heavy rain, causing a significantly reduced yield – with up to 20 per cent of crops lost.

Brisbane market traders were on Tuesday reporting delivery problems due to cut roads.

Mark Jensen, of Jensen’s Market Supplies at Rocklea, in Brisbane’s west, said the damage to Queensland produce would mean taking more deliveries from Victoria.